Unlike River Country which relied on the nostalgia of an old fashioned swimming hole, Typhoon Lagoon was built as a modern theme park. The park was themed to look as if a large storm had hit the area, beaching all kinds of ships and even fish. The town the resided where Typhoon Lagoon sits, was damaged badly in the storm. Because of this backstory, the facades guests see when walking around the park are usually themed to look like damaged buildings or beached ships.
As opposed to other water parks which featured water slides waterslides as there primary attractions, Typhoon Lagoon's main attraction is a 126,000 square foot wave pool known as the Typhoon Lagoon Surf Pool. The wave pool alternates between 90 minutes of surf height waves (6 feet) and 30 minutes of smaller, calmer waves. At the time of it's construction the Surf Pool was the largest wave pool in the country. Before the park opened CEO Michael Eisner called the Typhoon Lagoon Surf Pool, "The best surf East of Hawaii".
The wave pool sits at the foot of a 95 foot, man-made mountain, Mount Mayday, which erupts a 50 foot geyser every 30 minute. Atop Mount Mayday the parks icon, Miss Tilly was built. The image of Miss Tilly sitting a top Mount Mayday was used as the parks "icon".
==Opening Day==
Typhoon Lagoon opened June 1, 1989 to overwhelmingly positive reviews. Although the park was not heavily advertised, guests flocked to see the newest Disney water park. Grand Opening festivities were held for the park on June 6th when the park was officially dedicated. When Typhoon Lagoon opened it consisted of: a 2,100 foot lazy river known as Castaway Creek, the Shark Reef, the Surf Pool, an area for kids called Ketchakiddee Creek, and seven water slideswaterslides. The water slides waterslides were made up of three body slides (the Rudder Buster, the Stern Buster, and the Jib Jabber), three tube slide (Mayday Falls, Keelhaul Falls, and Gangplank Falls) and the popular speed slide, Humunga Kowabunga. ==Current Attractions== ===Ground Level==='''Typhoon Lagoon Surf Pool'''- The largest outdoor wave pool in the world, the Typhoon Lagoon Surf Pool is located at the base of Mount Mayday. The waves alternate between surf, which generates 6 foot waves, and a more relaxing bobbing waves. The surf waves are generated for 90 minutes at a time, followed by 30 minutes of the gentler waves. '''Castaway Creek'''- A 2,100-foot lazy river, which encircles the entire park. As guests float down the river, they will go trough small waterfalls, tropical rain forests, mist screens and even Mount Mayday. A round trip around the river takes approximation 20 minutes. Their are five entrance/exit locations. '''Ketchakiddie Creek'''- Located at north west corner of the park, Ketchakiddie Creek is a play are for small children. Miniature waterslides, shooting fountains, and even a small river rapids ride can be found here. Ketchakiddie Creek also features 10 activity areas and a small white sand beach. Guests must be under 48 inches tall to enter the area. ===Mount Mayday Slides=== '''Humunga Kowabunga'''- Three side by side body slides that whisk guests down five stories in the dark. Humunga Kowabunga is located on Mount Mayday, and is 214 feet long. Guests reach speeds of up to 30 mph and must be 48 inches to ride. '''Storm Slides'''-The Storm Slides are three unique body slides located on the side of Mount Mayday. The slides take guests down three stories, through caves, waterfalls and geysers before dropping guests into the pool below. All the slides reach top speeds of about 20 mph. The slides are: the Jib Jammer, the Stern Burner and the Rudder Buster. '''Keelhaul Falls'''-A single tube waterslide that takes guests down Mount Mayday. While on Keelhaul Falls guests will scenically twist down the mountain through caves and waterfalls before splashing into the pool. '''Mayday Falls'''-The longest waterslide in Typhoon Lagoon, Mayday Falls begins in the shadow of Miss Till atop Mount Mayday. While on Mayday Falls, guests swerve and curve down the waterslide through caves and waterfalls. Mayday Falls is more turbulant and faster then the other "falls" waterslides and it is located near Gangplank Falls. '''Gangplank Falls'''